Great Lakes Limestone and Iron Ore Trade in 2024

By GLSR Staff  |  Cargo & Commodities, Latest News

Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 28.3 million tons in 2024, a decrease of 3.9 percent compared to 2023. 2024’s loadings were below the trade’s five-year average by 2.9 percent.

Loadings from U.S. quarries decreased 3.4 percent from the prior year to 22.8 million tons. Shipments from U.S. quarries were also below their five-year average by 2.4 percent.

Shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 5.4 million tons, a decrease of 5.7 percent compared to 2023 and 5 percent below the five-year average.

Iron Ore

Photo courtesy of Lake Carriers’ Association

Iron ore shipments were also down in 2024. Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes totaled 4.6 million tons in December, a decrease of 4.5 percent compared to a year ago. Shipments were just slightly above the five-year average for the month.

The year-end total for the iron ore trade stands at 49.8 million tons, a decrease of 2.5 percent compared to 2023.

Compared to the trade’s five-year average, 2024 iron ore loadings were up 3.8 percent.

Photos courtesy of Lake Carriers’ Association

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